Mank
/mæŋk/noun
A British and Scots slang or dialect word meaning dirty, unpleasant, defective, or to spoil something.
Did you know?Modern British slang uses “mank” mainly as a clipping of “manky,” while older Scots and northern dialect forms used related words for maiming or mutilation; the connection between these senses is debated.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
manken
“To maim, mutilate, or injure; a form associated with damage or physical defect.”
14th–15th Century
Anglo-French
manquer
“To fail, lack, miss, or fall short; a possible source for some English and Scots forms.”
Early Modern Period
Scots
mank
“To maim, mutilate, or leave defective; dialectal usage.”
19th Century
Scots and Northern English
manky
“Dirty, spoiled, defective, or unpleasant; the precise origin of this sense is uncertain.”
20th Century
British English
mank
“A clipped slang form of “manky,” describing something disgusting, filthy, or unpleasant.”
Modern English
British English
mank
“To be disgusting or to ruin, damage, or spoil something; informal slang.”